Google Glass Banned in UK Movie Theaters

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The fear of people pirating Hollywood blockbusters caused cinema owners in Britain to ban Google Glass in their movie theaters, according to reports.

Google just made the Glass prototype available in Britain, and already "cinemas are alarmed that criminal gangs" could use the wearable computer to make copies of Hollywood movies and sell them illegally, according to the Telegraph. They have reason to be concerned -- about 90 percent of all pirated video is made by recording the films in the theater.

Google Glass powers down after 45 minutes of recording so it's unlikely a user could get a whole film in one recording, but that's not stopping theater owners from asking users to remove the tech eyewear that has can capture video and is connected to the Internet.

“We recommend any cinemas concerned about Glass to treat the device as they treat similar devices like mobile phones: simply ask wearers to turn it off before the film starts," Google told the Telegraph. "The fact that Glass is worn above the eyes and the screen lights up whenever it’s activated makes it a fairly lousy device for recording things secretly.”

The backlash against Google Glass in the United Kingdom may signal what's coming for the device in the United States. After the Recording Industry Association of America's witch hunt against illegal music downloaders, would it be difficult to see the same happening with the Motion Picture Association of America? Oh, wait, it already is.